Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Ince leaves Rovers hotseat
Tuesday 16th December 2008, 11:48AM GMT.
Former Wolves star Paul Ince has been relieved of his duties as manager of struggling Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.
See also: Wolves 4 Blackburn 2 – in pictures
Paul Ince’s Wolves career
A statement on the Rovers website said: “It is with great sadness the board announce that Paul Ince is to leave the club. After a board meeting yesterday it was decided to relieve Paul of his duties.
“The board, having selected Paul back in June, were desperate for him to succeed and wanted to give him as much time as possible in the unforgiving environment of Premier League management where time is such a precious commodity.”[poll=137]
Chairman John Williams said “Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position. We are currently in real danger of becoming detached from the pack.
“The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount and our focus now is on finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status.
“Paul will bounce back, he is a fighter and we wish him well.”
The former MK Dons and Macclesfield Town boss played for Wolves 115 times between 2002 and 2006 before embarking on a career in management.
Wolves beat Blackburn 4-2 in a pre-season friendly.
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Hope Blackburn go down now……..
Report abuse
sad news!
Good luck Incey!
I am sure you will return to the golden palace one day – you will always be welcome.
Report abuse
Unlucky mate hope to see ya back in the game soon (:
Report abuse
Did we get a lucky escape? Time will tell.
Good luck to Incey in the future as i still think he has what it takes to be a decent manager but in my opinion should never have taken the Blacburn job as Hughes took them as far as he could (thats why he left them) and the only way was down.
Blacburn have way over achieved for many years and belong in the lower leagues anyway.
Report abuse
Mowbray next hopefully!
Report abuse
i think he proven he is good manager at the lower league
just think it was too big step up for incey in short spell.
his next step should been for champs side
Report abuse
2. Hope your wrong, he was great on the field, but, he is not up to managing at this (Prem or Champ) level. It makes me smile when a great player is always expected to automatically become a manager. How many of you wanted him in at Molineaux?? and what do you think now?…..nice bloke, poor communicator, doesnt inspire the individual.
Report abuse
Another nail in the coffin for the anti-Mick brigade from last season.
Thanks to Morgan and Moxey for not listening to those twerps!
Report abuse
Paul Ince to be unveiled as the new Charlton manager?
Report abuse
I wanted Mick gone last season for his dire decisions on and off the pitch and lack off transparency with the fans.
This year he has proved me wrong and i’ve been the first to admit and congratulate what a fantastic turn around this season has been so far. In no small part to Mick Mccarthy.
Wolf Harris, you and a few other “EXPERTS” have nothing else to say but come on here and have a go at those who had a different opinion to you last season. Funny enough its you lot who are actually the whingers now !
Get over it and get over yourself.
Report abuse
Bring him back to Wolves….we will need his skill in the Premier Division
Report abuse
Gutted for Incey – great player, well out ofhis depth at Blackburn.
UP THE WOLVES!!!
Report abuse
Crazy decision, I hope Blackburn go down. I believe the board said he inherited a squad that finished 7th, wrong. Blackburn sold their two best players in Fredel and Bentley.
Also just look at the mess Charlton are in by rash decisions.
All best to Paul Ince he will bounce back.
Report abuse
I would have preferred Paul Ince to Mick when the opportunity arose and I may be proved hopelessly wrong.
I think Ince did rise too high too quickly and needed more experience at lower league level and, as said, Blackburn was not a great first go. Had he taken over at a club that was struggling, the pressure would have been a lot less and the current league position a lot less stark.
That said, we still employ a failed Premiership manager who has so far not admitted that he got anything wrong – only that he didn’t have enough investment from the Board….twice!
I accept Mick has hardly put a foot wrong this season and his buys have been excellent. If we make it to the Promised Land, I hope he has learnt from his mistakes, the Board back him and we survive but as Ince has found, the Premiership is an unforgiving place and if Mick struggles for a third time, the conclusion has to be that he can’t hack it at the highest level.
Report abuse
nevermind incy you gave it your best shot,if the players don’t perform then what chance as the manager got,just look at us last season 80% of molineux wanted mick out but now he’s the best thing since sliced bread,it’s a funny old game,still up the wolves.
Report abuse
Mick Out !
Get the Guvenor in !
Report abuse
Sorry to say. Since his racist jibe and now this, Moxey has proven he made the right decision with getting Mick in.
Report abuse
lizsimpson – he has shown little skill as a premiership manager so why would we want him?
Gung – ho players don’t make good managers. the best managers are those with guile and a great knack of knowing players. Paul is a great leader on the pitch but I never thought he has the attributes of a manager. He will probably get a league 2 or 1 club and do well but when it comes to the higher levels I don’t think ha can cut it – at the moment.
As for those that wanted him to replace Mick a few months ago, well maybe you know better now.
I shouldn’t worry about Mick in the premiership. I would not be at all surprised that if we continue to do well that he is offered a top spot there once again. Look what he’s doing – he’s buying well as they’re young, hungry and talented. They haven’t cost the earth either. What soccer team board does not want similar – very good buys at a good price.
His contract runs out next year so Morgan really must back him this January cos Mick will stay if he can keep his team together. Start losing players and we’ll lose Mick and that will not be good…
Report abuse
Maybe one step too soon, but his time will come>
Hope Blackburn go down now
Report abuse
It still rankles with me the way after Wolves reverred Paul Ince and made him club captain that he thought he didn’t get the Wolves job because he was black! What a nonsense and an insult to a great club. No, Paul Ince didn’t get the job because he was too inexperienced, full stop. A fact that is coming home to roost now. He has already come out with twaddle about a vendetta against ex Man United players, so just watch this space – he will surely play the race card again soon, mark my words.
Report abuse
I AGREE WITH COMMENT 1! I HOPE THEY GO DOWN NOW. THE NEXT MANAGER WILL ONLY HAV 2 OR 3 GAMES TO GET HIS IDEAS&TACTICS ACROSS TO THE PLAYERS OR HE WILL BE GONE ASWELL. IDIOTS.
NOT EVERY NEW MANAGER WILL BE LIKE HARRY REDKNAPP!!
GOOD LUCK INCEY ALWAYS HAVE A COACHIN ROLE AT MOLINEUX IM SURE.
Report abuse
16 London Wolf you are a Muppet. Mick has got things ticking along just nicely at the moment. As much as I like & admire the Guv’nor now is not the time to even suggest such a ridiculous change.
Report abuse
really sorry for incie, yet again people who employ, quickly give the sack when things go wrong, blackburn deserve to go down, and incie will come good in the future as he will prove, as for tesco boys!!! no comment !!
Report abuse
As sorry as I was to hear the news – and as much as I loved Incey as a player – I am not entirely surprised. I hope that Paul can start to re-build what was proving to be a promising managerial career somewhere else soon but I will always believe that Jez and the board got it absolutely right when they appointed MM and not “the fans’ choice”. Nothing that I have seen since (and that includes some of our efforts last season) has convinced me otherwise. That said, good luck Incey – you will always be a legend and I wish you well for the future.
Report abuse
Ince is legend, wears his heart on his sleeve. I think he wasnt given enough time and not enough money. Blackburn will probably win on saturday but I hope they go down. One of the poorest teams in the premiership and just a nuisance of a team. Abit like a floater…. just cant flush it away.
Report abuse
Wrong team, full of big-time Charlies…
Wrong time, inherited team, no own transfers.
Should have had more time, Incey *NEVER* fails to deliver!
Report abuse
He will be back, a true legend, football and wolves legend. Blackburn players turned on him when Hughsey left, but he got sacked still above the albion in the table. Keith Andrews though incey come on! at least he scored against the albion, likewise Keane, Camara and andrews, how the ex wolves love the playing the albion!
Report abuse
BJ Wolf – My comment was purely a sarcastic one, I completely agree with you and think Mick is doing an amazing job.
Isn’t football funny. Last year all the ‘nuggets’ on here asking for Mick to be sacked and replaced with Ince, and now look at things.
Roswolf – I hear what you’re saying. How Ince thought race had anything to do with him not getting the Wolves job before McCarthy amazed me. If we were a racist club then why did we employ him as a player ?
Report abuse
I always thought it was too much of a jump for him. Yes he did very well at Macclesfield and MK Dons and I always thought he should have stayed there for a few more seasons. Some of his signings have been questionable Robbie Fowler? Keith Andrews who we let go because he couldn’t get in the squad and for me never cut the mustard! Yes he played well at MK but that was his level not premiership!! Sorry Ince you’ve fallen into the ‘look after your friends’ trap!! He was going to sign some young lad from a Championship side (his name and the club escapes me) but the lads dad is part of Ince’s backroom which for me is looking after his mates again! When I heard his name I was like who?
For me he wasn’t ready, and now that I have seen how he runs a big club I am glad he never got his hands on wolves.
All the best Ince and I hope you have learnt by your lessons!!
Report abuse
Some good comments some not so good-Hope he comes back- probably a bit early and of course the wrong team–Good Luck Paul-”YOU WILL BE BACK”–Crazey Dave
Report abuse
Stand up if you wanted Ince in as manager. Probably you would also stand up if I asked who wanted to keep Eastwood. Perhaps now is the time for you to realise what a superb leadership team we have. Morgan, Moxey and MM, keep up the good work!!
Report abuse
McCarthy was absolutely the right man for the job at the time. There is no substitute for experience and that was exactly what was needed at a club like ours. Taking on Ince at that time would have been a huge risk. It’s a shame that people on this site still fail to acknowledge that last season’s league position was largely as a result of injuries to influential players at important stages of the season. There was little McCarthy could do about this.
Report abuse
its a total discrace we cant just go around sacking people because thats just what they are they have to pay the bils just like the rest of us , and chairmen are just going ur not getting the results your sacked . its never your players arent good enough to keep you up well keep u on till feb to see how ur january buys do ? i mean how much did they get for bentley?
good luck incey god manager just needs to work himself into the prem .
Report abuse
I would put money on blackburn doing a spurs now. Spurs players were a discrace they didnt turn up for ramos and Bentley who almost signed for wolves although a good player has a serious attitude problem.
Report abuse
28 – Sorry London Wolf. I’ve been so used to negative comments over the last couple of years that I can no longer recognise sarcasm! Please accept my apologies.
Poor old Ince was on a hiding to nothing – maybe it was a big job too soon. Blackburn were just starting to decline before he took over. Would they be any better off if Sparky Hughes was still there? May be not. After all Man City ain’t exactly takin the Premiership by storm are they!
Report abuse
Incey is great I love him to bits but I felt at the time the step up to the Prem was too big, too soon.
It was naive of Blackburn to think he could become a manager at that level so quickly.
Good Luck Paul! you will be back.
Report abuse
Well done the Wolves Board for not giving in to pressure to sign Ince as manager.
For all you Wolves supporters that wanted him in. What happened???
Moxey was right again….
Report abuse
Blackburn in the prem – A bridge too far for Ince
But Mark Hughes with all that money to spend at Citeh isnt doing so well either is he?
The Premiership has been a graveyard for many, many ex players (Including former England Captains) – with time and proper backing – would it have been any different – Who knows?
Good Luck Incey
Report abuse
Ince is a total big-head anyway… you can almost imagine him in the dressing-room, staring and laying into his players
Report abuse
I am sorry for Paul,he will definiteley make it as a top flight manager.Maybe it was a step up the ladder to soon,or maybe he needed a couple of games more,who knows.Mark Hughes’ record over the same amount of games was not good either.
Who the hell are Blackburn Rovers anyway ?
Report abuse
There’s only one Paul Ince! The Guv’nor will end up on top like he always does!
Those mocking him will look stupid soon, football is a fickle game and Paul picked the wrong team.
The previous manager knew when to abandon ship and Paul picked up the debris after the best players had been sold.
Never had a chance to take on the massive egos of Blackburns big-time Charlies, and became a victim to their egos. Those idiots will be playing Championship football next year because of their moronic behaviour!
The Guv’nor won’t make that mistake again.
Report abuse
.. just not enough experience at that level. Same with Keane and a myriad of others who have attempted the quick leap from player to the top of the premiership. No substitute for experience.
Report abuse